What Happens During a Hearing Assessment?
Taking a hearing test is probably one of the simplest things you will ever do. If you
suspect your hearing is not what it used to be, or if friends and relatives are saying that you’re asking to repeat too often, you could have some hearing loss. Generally an appointment is required.
A complete hearing assessment should determine the degree of loss, type of loss, and potential benefit from amplification. Once at the appointment, you will fill out a brief questionnaire. The audiologist will see you and ask some background questions. Your ears will be inspected with an otoscope or a video otoscope, which is a television camera type of otoscope to view the inside of your ears.
Next you will enter a soundproof booth. Headphones will be placed on your head and you will be asked to respond by raising your hand, saying yes, or pushing a button to various tones. The tones vary in frequency from low to high pitch. The range of frequencies covers the area where the majority of the parts of speech occur from vowels to consonants.
The test results are plotted on a graph called an audiogram. It shows how much from normal your hearing has dropped and at which frequencies. At this point, speech tests will be done to determine how soft you can just barely hear and understand speech, how your hearing loss is affecting your ability to understand normal speech, and what your aided speech understanding potentials are.
The quick self-test below can help you identify whether or not you may be experiencing signs of hearing loss and need to schedule an appointment.
How’s Your Hearing?
Self Quiz
(From Michigan Association for Deaf, Hearing and Speech Services)
Directions: Choose the answer that best fits your situation. Then total your answers at the bottom of the page.
1. In a conversation with one person, I have to strain to hear.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
2. Following conversations with more than two people at the same time is difficult.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
3. I respond inappropriately to comments because I have misunderstood what others are saying.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
4. People seem to mumble.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
5. I ask people to repeat some of all of what they have said.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
6. People are annoyed because I misunderstand what they say.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
7. I avoid social activities because I cannot hear well and might respond inappropriately or miss out on conversation.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
8. At a party or other noisy event, I have trouble hearing conversation.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
9. I turn the volume on the television or radio up. Others in the house complain that it is too loud.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
10. Voices are hard to understand on the telephone.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
11. I miss calls and visitors because I don’t hear the phone or doorbell ringing.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
12. I work or have worked in a noisy environment (factory assembly line, jet airplanes, power tools, jackhammers).
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
13. I get confused about where the sounds come from.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
14. Women and children are more difficult to understand than men.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
15. I experience a ringing in my ears after being around a loud noise.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
16. My family, friends or co-workers have asked me if I have a hearing loss.
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost Always
Total the number of answers in each category and multiply each total by the number indicated.
_____Total # of "Never" multiplied by 0 = ____
_____ Total # of "Sometimes" multiplied by 1 = _____
_____ Total # of "Often" multiplied by 2 = _____
_____ 0Total # of "Almost Always" multiplied by 3 = _____
Now add the points!
If you scored:
0-5 You do not appear to have a hearing loss. Continue your awareness of hearing concerns. Take this self-test again next year at this time.
6-14 Your hearing may be affected. Make an appointment with an ear-nose-throat specialist.
15+ You have a hearing loss. Make an appointment with an audiologist or have your hearing evaluated at a speech and hearing center.
